Predation impact of the notothenioid fish Trematomus bernacchii on the size structure of the scallop Adamussium colbecki in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

Little information is available regarding predator-prey interactions in High-Antarctic coastal systems. In this study, the predation of Trematomus bernacchii (Pisces: Nototheniidae) on Adamussium colbecki (Mollusca: Pectinidae) is described and the related impact on the population structure of the mollusc is hypothesized. Fishes and scallops were collected during several expeditions between 1990/91 and 1997/98 summers, in nearshore waters at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica). Adamussium colbecki was the main food item of T. bernacchii and an ontogenetic prey-size selection was observed. The predation was mainly on medium size classes of the scallop. These were lacking in the A. colbecki population sampled in the same period suggesting that the impact of fish-feeding on the size structure of the natural population of the mollusc may be substantial. Two size classes of the Adamussium population were not preyed on. Large adults avoid predation either because of the limits for mouth gape in the fish or by swimming avoidance capability, while smaller scallops may not be preyed upon because they are attached through byssus threads to very mobile large adults.

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Diet of two coastal nototheniid fish from Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102094000088 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 61-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

M. Vacchi ◽

M. La Mesa ◽

A. Castelli

Keyword(s):

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Important Prey ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Trematomus Bernacchii ◽

Terra Nova ◽

Adamussium Colbecki ◽

Nototheniid Fish ◽

Epibenthic Invertebrates

An investigation into the feeding habits of two demersal nototheniids, Trematomus bernacchii and T. centronotus, showed that the most important prey were polychaetes, molluscs and euphausiids for T. bernacchii and polychaetes and amphipods for T. centronotus. Epifaunal (e.g. Barrukia cristata) and tube-dwelling polychaetes (Amphicteis cfr. midas and Amythas membranifera) were common in the diet of both species. Bivalvia including Adamussium colbecki were found in the diet of T. bernacchii. Epifaunal gastropods (Trochidae) were an occasional prey for T. centronotus. Amphipods (mainly Acanthonotozomatidae) and the euphausiid Euphausia frigida were the main crustacean food of T. centronotus and T. bernacchii respectively. Our data suggest a difference in the feeding behaviour of the two nototheniid species, although both appear capable of feeding on common epibenthic invertebrates.

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Trophic ecology of the emerald notothen Trematomus bernacchii (Pisces, Nototheniidae) from Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea, Antarctica

Polar Biology ◽

10.1007/s00300-004-0645-x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 27 (11) ◽

pp. 721-728 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

M. La Mesa ◽

M. Dalú ◽

M. Vacchi

Keyword(s):

Trophic Ecology ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Trematomus Bernacchii ◽

Terra Nova

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Vitellogenin gene expression in males of the Antarctic fish Trematomus bernacchii from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea): A role for environmental cadmium?

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.07.026 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 66 (7) ◽

pp. 1270-1277 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Adriana Canapa ◽

Marco Barucca ◽

Stefania Gorbi ◽

Maura Benedetti ◽

Sara Zucchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Antarctic Fish ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Trematomus Bernacchii ◽

Terra Nova ◽

Vitellogenin Gene ◽

The Antarctic

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Exchange between populations of Adamussium colbecki (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Ross Sea

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102006000678 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 645-653 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Marta Guidetti ◽

Stefania Marcato ◽

Mariachiara Chiantore ◽

Tomaso Patarnello ◽

Giancarlo Albertelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Dna ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Sampling Period ◽

Mcmurdo Sound ◽

Frequency Distributions ◽

Larval Behaviour ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Key Species ◽

Terra Nova ◽

Adamussium Colbecki

The endemic Antarctic scallop Adamussium colbecki (Mollusca: Bivalvia) represents a key species in the Ross Sea littoral benthic ecosystem, locally reaching very high densities. This species has an annual gametogenic cycle, with a summer spawning event, and a pelagic larval behaviour. This paper aims at describing population structure and genetic polymorphism (using AFLP) of the large populations inhabiting the Ross Sea (Terra Nova Bay and McMurdo Sound) in order to investigate possible genetic exchange between A. colbecki in these areas. In Terra Nova Bay, size-frequency distributions show, generally, the dominance of large individuals, although site related differences are found in the abundance of smaller size classes (less than 40 mm), suggesting that recruitment is not a regular event. All McMurdo sites are characterized by large individuals and, at least during this sampling period, recruitment is completely absent. Nuclear DNA analyses show that the largest differences are found at the largest scale (between McMurdo Sound and Terra Nova Bay), but all populations sampled, even at a smaller spatial scale, have a well-settled genetic structure, notwithstanding the pelagic larval strategy. The panmixia hypothesis has therefore to be rejected for this species.

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Reproduction in three species of fish from the Ross Sea and Mawson Sea

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102096000259 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 185-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

M. Vacchi ◽

R. Williams ◽

M. La Mesa

Keyword(s):

Egg Size ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Spawning Period ◽

Reproductive Characteristics ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Mawson Sea ◽

Trematomus Bernacchii ◽

Terra Nova ◽

Casey Station

Reproductive characteristics are compared of the nototheniids Trematomus bernacchii and T. hansoni and the channichthyid Chionodraco hamatus caught in summer at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea) and caught all the year round in the waters off Casey Station (Mawson Sea). Whilst spawning of T. bernacchii took place in October–November off Casey and probably at Terra Nova Bay, the spawning period of T. hansoni differed between the sites (September–November off Casey, December–February at Terra Nova Bay). The spawning period also differed between sites for C. hamatus (August–October off Casey, December–February at Terra Nova Bay). Fecundity was higher and egg size was lower in nototheniid species (c, 8000 eggs of 3–4 mm) than in channichthyid (c. 4000 eggs of 4–5 mm). Moreover, the fecundity was lower and egg size higher in the specimens from Terra Nova Bay when compared to Casey.

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Nearshore population characteristics of the circumpolar Antarctic scallop Adamussium colbecki (Smith, 1902) at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea)

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102093000501 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 377-378 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Marco Nigro

Keyword(s):

Benthic Community ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Point Of View ◽

Population Characteristics ◽

Detailed Knowledge ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Terra Nova ◽

Adamussium Colbecki

Adamussium colbecki is one of the dominant members of the nearshore benthic community around Antarctica (Nicol 1966, Dell 1974). It has been studied from a systematic and biogeographic point of view since the beginning of this century (Smith 1902, Pelseneer 1903). However, detailed knowledge of its biology and ecology has been only acquired during the last decade (Stockton 1984, Berkman 1990, Berkman et al. 1991, Mauri et al. 1990, Nigro et al. 1992, Nakajima et al. 1982).

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Role of filtering and biodeposition by Adamussium colbecki in circulation of organic matter in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

Journal of Marine Systems ◽

10.1016/s0924-7963(98)00052-9 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 17 (1-4) ◽

pp. 411-424 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

M. Chiantore ◽

R. Cattaneo-Vietti ◽

G. Albertelli ◽

C. Misic ◽

M. Fabiano

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Terra Nova ◽

Adamussium Colbecki

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Biogeochemical cycling of Pb in the coastal marine environment at Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102003001524 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 425-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

S. DALLA RIVA ◽

M.L. ABELMOSCHI ◽

M. CHIANTORE ◽

M. GROTTI ◽

E. MAGI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ross Sea ◽

Ice Core ◽

Concentration Data ◽

Odontaster Validus ◽

Terra Nova Bay ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

Pack Ice ◽

Laternula Elliptica ◽

Trematomus Bernacchii ◽

Terra Nova

The biogeochemical cycle of lead in the marine coastal environment of Terra Nova Bay has been investigated by determining the lead concentration in a large number of matrices: marine sediments, pack ice, snow, seawater, marine microlayer, aerosol and eight species of marine organisms (the bivalve molluscs Adamussium colbecki and Laternula elliptica, the seastar Odontaster validus, the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri, the fish Trematomus bernacchii, the seaweeds Iridaea cordata and Phyllophora antarctica, and the nemertine worm Parborlasia corrugatus). The study of solid speciation of sediment showed that the site is not influenced by human activity and is hence suitable to examine natural processes. The concentration values found in the suspended paniculate matter (SPM) of pack ice core, aerosol, marine microlayer and seawater as well as the particulate morphology, investigated by SEM, seem to support the hypothesis that particulate lead is transferred from the atmosphere to the water column through three different mechanisms: (i) release of SPM from the pack ice during its melting, (ii) input from the continental land through wet deposition, (iii) transport by aerosol and marine microlayer. Concentration data both in the whole organism and in some target organs indicated two suitable biomonitor organisms: the bivalva Laternula elliptica (particularly its digestive gland) and the fish Trematomus bernacchii (particularly its bones).

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